Thankfully, a world-first study out of the University of South Australia has found that diabetes sufferers can achieve the same results, including weight loss and maintaining blood glucose levels, by following the 5:2 diet.

In a paper published in JAMA, lead author UniSA PhD student Sharayah Carter says intermittent fasting could be a solution for people with diabetes who find it difficult to stick to a diet seven days a week.

We need to talk about our obesity problem1:07

2 in every 3 Australian adults are now overweight or obese, and the problem seems to only be getting worse.

Her findings are based on a year-long clinical trial of 137 people with type 2 diabetes, half of whom followed a 5:2 diet and the others an ongoing restricted diet, consuming between 1200 and 1500 calories a day.

Fasting on two non-consecutive days, consuming between 500-600 calories, and then eating normally for five other days each week not only results in weight loss but also improved blood glucose control.

While fasting is safe for people with diet-controlled type 2 diabetes, for those using insulin and other oral medications likely to cause hypoglycaemia, blood glucose levels need to be monitored and medication doses changed accordingly, the study authors caution.